The National tribune., 1887-10-20
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
sEAsoSABLE SUGGESTIONS.


such of his crops as were planted during July
and August. Our first paintings Of celery
should now be in condition to be placed upon
the market, and usually find ready sale. Fall
spinach also has its lovers, and can be sold at
a profit. With radishes, lettuce, pot-herbs,
string beans, corn, beets, carrots, peppers etc,
there is no reason why good, active, intelli-
gent gardener should not find money in the
garden in October rs well as in June. The old
notion that vegetables out of season will not
sell is fast giving way TO an understanding of
the art of catering TO the appetites of tho peo-
pie / can vouch for it, being taught by expo
rience that we have only to place before the
public neat, clean, fresh vegetables, such as
please the eye, the whole year around, in order
to find sale for them.
A few years since we enjoyed lettuce only
during a few weeks in May, but to-day it is
served on the tables of our hotels every month
of the year. What is true of lettuce can also
be said of many other varieties. The demand
has increased faster than the supply. As proof
of this we have only to review the enormous
trade between the Southern States and North
ern cities and even foreign countries, in
onions, potatoes, peas etc., which may be found
in our markets while we are still locked in
cold, icy letters. This trade is annually in
creasing and assuming vast proportions, a
source of great profit TO the South and q God
given blessing TO the people Of the North.
Lettuce in cold-frames for March should be
spotted six inches apart into the best of soil the
last of this month and protected on the APP
proaeh of severe weather with glass. | find
Tennis-ball as good as any for this purpose.
For plants to set in March that will stand the
hard winds and sudden changes without damp
ing off, SOW the seed not too thick in frame
the last of the month, and protect during Win
ter with sash, giving plenty of ventilation,
seldom failing 10 secure plants that can set
in March and market good heads from May
in the open ground. / also prefer such plants
for greenhouse to those started on the bench.
The later paintings Of celery should now be
making rapid growth, requiring additional
banking each week. i find il better to do the
banking gradually and not all at once or even
at two operations. Celery intended for use on
Thanksgiving should be banked to the top tho
last of the month, and the last planted will
now need handling.-0 and Garden.
THE PERFECT WEED KILLER
What the harrow is for field use, the rake is
or might be made-for garden use, namely:
the most convenient aBd most effective weed
killer. If proper rotation ard continued plant
ing is practiced, as il should be in any farmers
garden. this will now "shoW off" as well as at
any other time. In the placeof onions, lettuce,
Summer radishes, early beets early potatoes,
etc, of early Summer, we now find straight
rows of thrifty growing cabbage, turnips, celery,
spinach, kale, Winter Tadishes, endive and per-
haps patch Of late cucumbors.
Deep cultivation is hardly needed at this
time, except perhaps for cabbage; and we find,
that We can keep vegetables growing nicely,
and the weeds in check, by raking the whole
garden over every few days-an operation which
requires but little time and effort, yet leaves
the garden in a most attractive shape, and in
quite striking contrast with the appearance
of the farmers garden as usually kept. The
rows between all vegetables should be far
enough apart for the free use of the rake.
The harrow in the field; the steel rake in the
garden-these, with proper rotation, are our
ideal weed killers.-Orchdrd and Garden.
CULTIvATISG THE RASPBERRY
After all said and done, there is no small
fruit so certain in its crop and altogether so
wholesome as the raspberry. With any kind
OF decent attention it will not disappOnt the
grower, no matter what the variety may be-
1t is true that il should always be pruned and
laid down in November, ready for taking up
in the Spring without anything more do TO
with il than tying TO stakes These stakes may
be almost of any kind and can almost always
be furnished on the premises-such as pieces of
boards split OF, bean-poles that have become
too short by the ends rotting of, and supports
obtained from pruned branches from trees. Do
this and one is sure of getting good supply of
fruit. When the canes arc done bearing cut
them out; and when November comes prune
the new wood and lay down as before.
NOTES.
- The average cost of Matching and raising
chickens by artificial means TO eight weeks old
does not exceed Is cents.
- Every rod of fence on farm, beyond what
is required TO protect crops, is a serious tax,
but full protection does not suggest a need of
fences between grain-felds, nor that farm
shall DO divided into five-acre lots.
Good range, pure water, dry shelter, ami
NAL food and entire freedom from filth are all
needful 10 promote high health and continuous
prosperity in the poultry yard, but more or
less range for laying fowls is the first essential
10 their well-being
Watch the chicks carefully if any are in
tended for exhibition purposes IL any of the
chick feathers come out of place or twisted, re-
move them; also any off-colored ones Doing
this, the fowl feathers, which come when they
are about six months old, will come all right.
In these little ways we may guard against
many tendencies that, neglected, become per-
manent defects.
- do not place one ro0St hlgner than an
other. When so arranged the hens will all
crowd to the highest, leaving the lower ones
unoccupied. The better plan is 10 place them
ali on a level There is no necessity for having
the roOst any higher than simply to allow a
space under them for the free circulation of
| air.
- Fruit-growers are sometimes advised by
| those who are not informed to hang dishes of
! sweetened water or corncobs sweetened with
| thick molasses in their fruit trees To trap the
curculio and codling moth. The remedy has
been repeatedly tested ut the Agricultural Col
lege and found worthless in practice. Paris
| green for the codling moth and the Earring
process so often described in these columns for
the curculio are the reliable methods of exter-
mination. -
The use of salt on Asparagus is confined to
| the keeping down of weeds during cutting
time. Too much Of il will iniure asparagus,
but light application is harmless; rs for plant
food, salt does not answet and we must look to
good manure and fertilizers Tor this purpose.
| There is indeed no trouble in growing aspara-
gus at all commensurate with the comfort of
having good supply of IL. 10
- Green food will be wanted for the poultry
next Winter. How would it, do to follow the
| plan of New England soultryman, which is
| 10 SOW rye now and got q good heavy growth
| before Winter. When real cold weather freezes
the rye cut it and store away in arcold place
and keep it frozen until wanted for feeding.
| Then thaw out and cut up This is u new form
| of ensilage. By the way, why don't somebody
| put up ensilage in barrels for poultry? Why
notr Wouldn't it be good way TO supply
succulent food in Winter?
/ Alsike clover aithnuoh mt vieIdip1 %